Reproductive and developmental parameters of Aenasius bambawalei (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as affected by temperature

The life table parameters of the parasitoid wasp, Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hym.: Encyrtidae) were studied at ۲۵, ۳۰, and ۳۵ °C, ۶۵ ± ۵% R. H. and ۱۴L: ۱۰D h. Third instar nymphs of Pseudococcus solenopsis Tinesly (Hem.: Pseudococcidae) were used as host for the wasp. Adult longevity and preoviposition period of female wasps were assessed and the raw data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table. According to the results, the total preovipostion period of females was ۱۷ days at ۲۵ °C and decreased to ۱۳.۰۷ days at ۳۵ °C. The highest and lowest longevity was recorded for females at ۲۵ °C (۴۰.۱۲ days) and males at ۳۵ °C (۳.۷۱ days), respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (r) of A. bambawalei were ۰.۱۱۹۲, ۰.۱۵۹۹, ۰.۲۱۴۲ d-۱ at ۲۵, ۳۰ and ۳۵ °C, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R۰) was calculated to be ۳۸.۰۴, ۵۵.۳۰, and ۸۱.۲۲ eggs/individual at ۲۵, ۳۰ and ۳۵ °C, respectively. The mean generation time (T) of A. bambawalei ranged from ۲۰.۵۲ days at ۳۵ °C to ۳۰.۵۲ days at ۲۵ °C. Our results suggested that A. bambawalei may be a more efficient biological control agent for P. solenopsis at ۳۵ °C than at ۲۵ and ۳۰ °C.